Kazunari Ninomiya (二宮和也) doesn’t think streaming will kill cinema. At a Tokyo International Film Festival talk on 27 October 2026 he said films and streaming dramas will “both coexist”, and that explains the spike in Japanese searches for his name.
The setting made his view stand out. He shared the stage with the producer of Kokuho, the period drama that became one of Japan’s biggest live-action hits, and with the head of the Academy Museum in Los Angeles.
Key takeaways
- On 27 October 2026, Ninomiya spoke at Kering’s “Women in Motion” talk, a partner event of the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills.
- He shared the stage with Kokuho producer Chieko Murata and Academy Museum director Amy Homma. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda gave the opening speech.
- His main points: film and streaming will coexist, and Japanese cinema is strongest when it works in “minimal spaces and developments”.
- Two days earlier, he had posted that he watched Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart in a cinema and joked that nobody recognised him.
What did Kazunari Ninomiya say at the Tokyo film festival?
Entertainment outlet Fashion Frontier reported that Ninomiya expects cinema and streaming dramas to “both coexist” (どっちも共存していく). Neither format has to win.
In a second report from the same session, he described Japanese film’s strength as its “minimal spaces and developments” (ミニマムな空間や展開): small settings and tight plots that still hold your attention. He also named parts of the industry’s working environment that he wants to see change.
Think of it like a small live venue next to a stadium tour. Each gives you something the other can’t, and the healthiest music scenes have both.
Who else was on stage?
The event was announced in September. Sakigake Shimpo reported the line-up as follows:
| Speaker | Role | Why they were there |
|---|---|---|
| Kazunari Ninomiya | Actor, singer, former Arashi member | Has worked across film, TV, streaming and his own production company |
| Chieko Murata | Producer | Planned and produced Kokuho |
| Amy Homma | Director and president, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures | Brought a Hollywood institution’s view of film culture |
| Hirokazu Kore-eda | Film director | Gave the opening speech |
“Women in Motion” is the luxury group Kering’s programme on women’s place in film. That is why a producer and a museum director, not only actors, were invited to speak.
Why does his opinion on streaming carry weight?
Ninomiya has worked in nearly every format. He became famous with the idol group Arashi, then built a serious acting career that runs from Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima to the 2025 horror film Exit 8 (8番出口). Exit 8 is based on the viral “spot the anomaly” video game.
He also runs his own company, Office Nino, which handles his work after his split from his old agency. In mid-2026 Arashi wound down its group activities after a final concert run, so his solo choices now say more about where he is headed.
In my view, this is why the “coexist” line works. It isn’t diplomacy from someone who only knows one format. It comes from someone who has been paid by both.
What else has Ninomiya been doing in October 2026?
Some of the search interest comes from smaller moments. On 25 October 2026 he posted on X that he had watched Studio Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart in a cinema. J-CAST News reported that he wrote “films are something you watch in a cinema” and said he thought nobody noticed him there.
He also said he spotted a scene that switched between kanji and romaji spellings, and admitted with a laugh that he had overthought it. Office Nino’s site also lists a new Marugame Seimen udon commercial with Masahiro Matsuoka.
- 25 October: watched Whisper of the Heart in a cinema and posted about it
- 26 October: new Marugame Seimen commercial announced
- 27 October: Women in Motion talk at the Tokyo International Film Festival
Into Japanese film this autumn? We also covered Nanoka Hara’s festival appearance and how an animated film is made.
What happens next
Ninomiya hasn’t announced a new film role at this event. In June 2026, Japanese media reported that he was likely to lead a TBS Sunday drama in April 2027, but there was no official confirmation when this article was published.
The bigger story is the one he discussed on stage. Japanese studios are deciding how much to put into theatrical releases and how much into streaming series. If Ninomiya is right, the industry will keep investing in both instead of choosing one.
FAQ
When and where did Kazunari Ninomiya speak?
He spoke on 27 October 2026 at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, at Kering’s Women in Motion talk during the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Does Ninomiya think streaming will replace cinema?
No. He said film and streaming dramas will both coexist.
Who produced Kokuho?
Chieko Murata planned and produced Kokuho. She was on the same panel as Ninomiya.
Want his view in action? Watch Exit 8 in a cinema if you can, then watch one of his streaming dramas, and compare how each one holds your attention.
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